Kim Seung-tae, an employee at Samsung Heavy Industries, received the Industrial Medal for his contributions to developing new shipbuilding methods and transferring technology over his 36 years in the industry.
On September 2, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Industrial Human Resources Development Institute held the 30th Vocational Skills Month ceremony at the Fairmont Ambassador Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. Vocational Skills Month was established in 1997 to promote the importance of vocational skill development, with this year's theme being 'New Skills, Bright Tomorrow.'
During the ceremony, a total of 35 individuals received government awards, including two medals, three industrial decorations, eight presidential citations, 17 prime ministerial citations, and five ministerial citations.
Kim was recognized for developing new shipbuilding methods that saved approximately 5.2 billion won (about $4.4 million) through patent proposals and work improvements. He holds 11 patents in the shipbuilding and marine sectors and has participated in over 500 technology transfer and volunteer activities.
After being named the top craftsman in Gyeongsangnam-do, he has been passing on his skills and experience to younger skilled workers. He has also engaged in 727 social contribution activities, totaling 2,354 hours.
The Industrial Medal was awarded to Kwak Seung-ho, chairman of the Gyeongbuk Industrial Vocational School. Over the past five years, Kwak has invested an average of 1.6 billion won annually in training facilities and equipment, establishing a network of over 500 partner companies. He was also recognized for expanding vocational training in new technology fields, including artificial intelligence (AI) campuses and K-Digital Training (KDT).
Industrial decorations were awarded to Ma Yeong-tae, a senior researcher at Samsung Electronics known for his expertise in surface treatment; Kim Kyung-soo, CEO of NextChip, a vehicle semiconductor research and development company; and Kim Sang-ho, head of the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, recognized for his policy research in NCS and qualifications.
Lim Young-mi, head of the Employment Policy Office at the Ministry of Labor, stated, 'Thanks to your dedication to vocational skills development over the past 30 years, South Korea has emerged as a powerhouse in technology and talent. We will expand vocational training in new technologies like AI and strengthen talent development to meet the demands of future key industries and local workforce needs.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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